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INEC says it will examine its electronic and documentary records to determine how candidates allegedly not nominated by the NDC appeared on its list for the 2027 elections
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NDC claims that individuals it neither nominated nor authorised were listed as its candidates after its duly nominated flag bearers were allegedly removed.
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INEC insists that political parties alone are responsible for nominating candidates and submitting their details through the commission’s electronic nomination portal
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The Commission says activities on its nomination portal are electronically recorded, making it possible to establish when candidate details were entered.
September 01, (THEWILL) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a review of its electronic and documentary records to unravel how individuals allegedly not nominated or authorised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) appeared on the party’s list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The development followed allegations by the NDC that candidates it duly nominated were removed and replaced with individuals the party said were unknown to the organisation and had neither been nominated nor authorised to contest under its platform.
The alleged substitutions reportedly affected several State House of Assembly constituencies, particularly in Anambra State, prompting the party to question how the names of the disputed candidates found their way into INEC’s official records.
The controversy has put the spotlight on the integrity of the candidate nomination process ahead of the 2027 elections, with the NDC alleging unauthorised interference and INEC insisting that it has no power to nominate candidates for political parties.
INEC Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the commission’s role was limited to administering the electoral process in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other relevant laws, regulations and guidelines.
“For the avoidance of doubt, INEC does not nominate candidates for political parties.
“The nomination of candidates is the responsibility of political parties, subject to compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws, Regulations and Guidelines,” Oketola said.
He explained that political parties submit the details of their candidates through INEC’s electronic nomination portal using credentials issued to them by the commission.
According to him, every activity carried out on the platform is electronically captured, thereby creating an audit trail that can be examined to establish when and how a candidate’s information was entered.
Oketola said the commission would therefore rely on its records to establish the origin of the disputed entries rather than act on allegations or speculation.
INEC Denies Interfering In Primaries
The commission also rejected any suggestion that its officials’ monitoring of political party primaries gave INEC the authority to determine which candidates should emerge or be submitted for elections.
Oketola explained that INEC officials attend party primaries as part of the commission’s statutory responsibilities, but stressed that their presence at such exercises does not amount to participation in the selection of candidates.
“Neither does a report made by officials who monitor a primary confer upon the commission the power to choose a candidate for the political party,” he said.
He maintained that disagreements arising from the conduct or outcome of party primaries, including appeals or attempts to alter the results, must be handled in accordance with the Electoral Act and other applicable laws.
The INEC spokesman said the commission could neither assume the responsibilities of political parties nor disregard the legal requirements governing the nomination and submission of candidates.
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NDC Allegation of Unauthorised Upload
Reacting specifically to the NDC’s allegation that some INEC officials obtained Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants and subsequently uploaded their details without the party’s approval, Oketola acknowledged the seriousness of the claim.
He, however, said the allegation could be verified through the commission’s electronic and documentary records.
“Rather than make categorical assertions on matters that can readily be established from those records, the commission will examine the relevant records relating to the constituencies identified by the NDC,” he said.
He urged the NDC to provide evidence and details of any INEC officials it believed were involved in the alleged unauthorised interference with its candidate nomination process.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
